Angle Lifeboat assists in recovery of missing yacht off St Anne's Head

Police have now confirmed that the search has been called off for Duncan Lougee following his disappearance on June 18.

A Irish fishing vessel spotted the yacht on Thursday, June 29 and Angle All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch by Milford Haven Coastguard to assist with the multi-agency search and recovery on the 110-mile round trip.

In the meantime an Irish coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, had arrived on scene and a winchman was lowered onto the yacht, which had been overdue for six days. He was able to confirm that nobody was onboard.

Following the lifeboat’s arrival on scene, two crew members went onboard to inspect the vessel for any information that may have indicated the last known position of the casualty.

“At this point, R117 from Ireland left and was replaced by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R924 from Newquay, Cornwall,” said a spokesperson for Angle Lifeboat RNLI.

“Due to the nature of the incident and the extent of the search area, a coastguard search plane, Rescue 51 had also been tasked and was now on scene closely followed by Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R187 from St Athan.

“With our crew members now onboard, new information was found indicating the last recorded position of the occupant.

“With the lifeboat out of VHF range, this information was passed to Rescue 51 for relay to Falmouth Coastguard and, following their discovery, all search assets were stood down as the new search area had shifted significantly south.”

Angle Lifeboat assists with the recovery of the Minke (Image: Angle RNLI)

Padstow Lifeboat proceed to tow the yacht back to Padstow harbour, with Angle Lifeboat crew passing a tow to the yacht to begin the journey south where the two lifeboats could rendezvous.

“After around an hour of towing, the Padstow Lifeboat arrived on scene and our crew members dropped the tow and assisted the crew of Padstow in attaching their tow to the vessel," said a spokesperson for Angle Lifeboat RNLI.

"Our crew were then recovered from the vessel and stood by for a short while until Padstow confirmed they had the tow rigged safely.

"After stowing the towline and fenders, Angle Lifeboat began the two hour passage back to Angle, where the lifeboat was recovered, refuelled and ready for further service by midnight."

Duncan Lougee was on his way to Baltimore in Ireland where he was expected to arrive on June 22 He was taking part in the single-handed Jester Challenge aboard his 25ft fibreglass folkboat ‘The Minke’.

The 70 year-old left Plymouth at around midday on June 18 and was expected to arrive in Baltimore, Ireland, on June 22 after sailing via the Isles of Scilly.

But there had been no contact with him since his day of departure and Mr Lougee from Colchester, Essex, remains a missing person.

Duncan Lougee (Image: Newsquests)

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Devon and Cornwall Police can confirm that the missing yacht Minke has been located on Thursday 29 June by Ireland Coastguard, around 70 miles northwest of Trevose Head, Cornwall.

"It appears that no one was on the vessel and therefore the boats skipper, 70-year-old Duncan Lougee from Colchester, Essex, remains a missing person."

Detective Inspector Daniel Massey said: “Yacht Minke has been brought to shore and is currently docked in Padstow Harbour. We continue to liaise with partners including The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Marine Accident Investigation Branch, and The Coroner’s Office in relation this matter.

“Whilst Mr Lougee remains officially a missing person, responsibility of searches in open water sits with the Coastguard. However, yacht Minke has been missing since it left Plymouth on Sunday 18 June, and initial enquires appear to show no fresh entries in the ships journal for at least nine days.

“Therefore, due to the potentially vast and prohibitive area of search at sea, at this time there is currently no new searches planned by Coastguard.”

He added: “This matter will remain under review and if any fresh information comes to light, this will be assessed accordingly. We have informed the family of these initial updates and our thoughts are with them at this time; the family of Duncan Lougee have asked for privacy.”

A spokesperson from HM Coastguard said: “Extensive searches were carried out and coordinated by HM Coastguard and the yacht found. The search was terminated once it became clear that the period of survivability had passed.”